Positive resist composition and patterning process

ABSTRACT

A positive resist composition is provided comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a carboxyl or phenolic hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group and recurring units of 2-pyrone ester, and having a Mw of 1,000-500,000. The resist composition has a satisfactory effect of suppressing acid diffusion and a high resolution, and forms a pattern of good profile and minimal edge roughness after exposure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2014-041705 filed in Japan on Mar. 4, 2014, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a positive resist composition, and more particularly to a chemically amplified positive resist composition; and a patterning process using the same.

BACKGROUND ART

To meet the demand for higher integration density and operating speed of LSIs, the effort to reduce the pattern rule is in rapid progress. The wide-spreading flash memory market and the demand for increased storage capacities drive forward the miniaturization technology. As the advanced miniaturization technology, manufacturing of microelectronic devices at the 65-nm node by the ArF lithography has been implemented in a mass scale. Manufacturing of 45-nm node devices by the next generation ArF immersion lithography is approaching to the verge of high-volume application. The candidates for the next generation 32-nm node include ultra-high NA lens immersion lithography using a liquid having a higher refractive index than water in combination with a high refractive index lens and a high refractive index resist film, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography of wavelength 13.5 nm, and double patterning version of the ArF lithography, on which active research efforts have been made.

With respect to high-energy radiation of very short wavelength such as electron beam (EB) or x-ray, hydrocarbons and similar light elements used in resist materials have little absorption. Then polyhydroxystyrene base resist materials are under consideration.

The exposure system for mask manufacturing made a transition from the laser beam exposure system to the EB exposure system to increase the accuracy of line width. Since a further size reduction becomes possible by increasing the accelerating voltage of the electron gun in the EB exposure system, the accelerating voltage increased from 10 kV to 30 kV and reached 50 kV in the current mainstream system, with a voltage of 100 kV being under investigation.

As the accelerating voltage increases, a lowering of sensitivity of resist film becomes of concern. As the accelerating voltage increases, the influence of forward scattering in a resist film becomes so reduced that the contrast of electron image writing energy is improved to ameliorate resolution and dimensional control whereas electrons can pass straightforward through the resist film so that the resist film becomes less sensitive. Since the mask exposure tool is designed for exposure by direct continuous writing, a lowering of sensitivity of resist film leads to an undesirably reduced throughput. Due to a need for higher sensitivity, chemically amplified resist compositions are contemplated.

As the feature size reduces, image blurs due to acid diffusion become a problem. To insure resolution for fine patterns with a size of 45 nm et seq., not only an improvement in dissolution contrast is important as previously reported, but control of acid diffusion is also important as reported in SPIE Vol. 6520 65203L-1 (2007). Since chemically amplified resist compositions are designed such that sensitivity and contrast are enhanced by acid diffusion, an attempt to minimize acid diffusion by reducing the temperature and/or time of post-exposure bake (PEB) fails, resulting in drastic reductions of sensitivity and contrast.

A triangular tradeoff relationship among sensitivity, resolution, and edge roughness has been pointed out. Specifically, a resolution improvement requires to suppress acid diffusion whereas a short acid diffusion distance leads to a loss of sensitivity.

The addition of an acid generator capable of generating a bulky acid is an effective means for suppressing acid diffusion. It was then proposed to incorporate in a polymer an acid generator of an onium salt having a polymerizable olefin. JP-A 2006-045311 discloses a sulfonium salt having polymerizable olefin capable of generating a specific sulfonic acid and a similar iodonium salt. JP-A 2006-178317 discloses a sulfonium salt having sulfonic acid directly attached to the main chain.

A tradeoff relationship between sensitivity and edge roughness has been pointed out. For example, SPIE Vol. 3331 p531 (1998) describes that sensitivity is in inverse proportion to edge roughness. It is expected that the edge roughness of a resist film is reduced by increasing the exposure dose to reduce shot noise. SPIE Vol. 5374 p74 (2004) describes a tradeoff between sensitivity and roughness in the EUV lithography in that a resist material containing a more amount of quencher is effective in reducing roughness, but suffers from a decline of sensitivity at the same time. There is a need to enhance the quantum efficiency of acid generation in order to overcome the problem.

With respect to the acid generating mechanism triggered by EB exposure, SPIE Vol. 5753 p361 (2005) reports that PAG releases acid through the mechanism that a polymer is excited by exposure so that electrons migrate to the PAG. Since the irradiation energy of EB or EUV is higher than the threshold value (10 eV) of ionization potential energy of a base polymer, it is presumed that the base polymer is readily ionized. An exemplary material of accelerating electron migration is hydroxystyrene.

It is reported in SPIE Vol. 5753 p1034 (2005) that poly-4-hydroxystyrene has a higher acid generation efficiency in EB exposure than poly-4-methoxystyrene, indicating that poly-4-hydroxystyrene provides for efficient migration of electrons to PAG upon EB exposure.

Reported in SPIE Vol. 6519 p65191F-1 (2007) is a material obtained through copolymerization of hydroxystyrene for increasing the acid generation efficiency by electron migration, a methacrylate of PAG having sulfonic acid directly bonded to a polymer backbone for suppressing acid diffusion, and a methacrylate having an acid labile group. Since hydroxystyrene has a phenolic hydroxyl group which is weakly acidic, it is effective for reducing swell in alkaline developer, but causes to increase acid diffusion. On the other hand, a methacrylate having lactone as the adhesive group is widely employed in the ArF resist composition. Since this methacrylate has high hydrophilicity and no alkaline solubility, it is ineffective for reducing swell, but effective for suppressing acid diffusion. A combination of hydroxystyrene and lactone-containing methacrylate as the adhesive group can establish a fairly good balance among sensitivity improvement, swell reduction, and acid diffusion control, but is still insufficient.

Copolymerization of hydroxyphenyl methacrylate with lactone ring-bearing methacrylate and optionally methacrylate of PAG having sulfonic acid directly bonded to the polymer backbone is effective for forming resist compositions having a high sensitivity, high resolution, and controlled acid diffusion. Increasing the content of hydroxyphenyl methacrylate is effective for further increasing the sensitivity. However, as the content of hydroxyphenyl methacrylate increases, alkaline solubility increases, indicating that the pattern will undergo a film thickness loss and eventually collapse. It would be desirable to have a resist material having higher sensitivity and resolution.

CITATION LIST

-   Patent Document 1: JP-A 2006-045311 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,482,108) -   Patent Document 2: JP-A 2006-178317 -   Non-Patent Document 1: SPIE Vol. 6520 65203L-1 (2007) -   Non-Patent Document 2: SPIE Vol. 3331 p531 (1998) -   Non-Patent Document 3: SPIE Vol. 5374 p74 (2004) -   Non-Patent Document 4: SPIE Vol. 5753 p361 (2005) -   Non-Patent Document 5: SPIE Vol. 5753 p1034 (2005) -   Non-Patent Document 6: SPIE Vol. 6519 p65191F-1 (2007)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a specific polymer, which composition exhibits a higher resolution than the prior art positive resist compositions and minimal edge roughness (LER, LWR), and forms a pattern of good profile; and a patterning process using the resist composition.

Making extensive investigations in search for a positive resist material capable of meeting the current requirements including high sensitivity, high resolution, and minimal edge roughness, the inventors have found that a polymer comprising recurring units of 2-pyrone ester is quite effective as a base resin in a positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition.

The inventors have found that a polymer obtained from copolymerization of a monomer unit having a carboxyl group whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group with a 2-pyrone ester as represented by the general formula (1) below is used as a base resin in a positive resist composition for the purposes of suppressing acid diffusion and improving dissolution contrast, and that a positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising the polymer is improved in such properties as sensitivity, a contrast of alkali dissolution rate before and after exposure, acid diffusion suppressing effect, resolution, and profile and edge roughness of a pattern after exposure, and thus best suited as a micropatterning material for the fabrication of VLSI and photomasks.

The positive resist composition has a high sensitivity due to the enhanced decomposition efficiency of acid generator, a satisfactory effect of suppressing acid diffusion, and a high resolution, lends itself to the lithography process, and forms a pattern of good profile and minimal edge roughness after exposure. Because of these advantages, the composition is readily implemented in practice and best suited as a VLSI-forming resist material and mask pattern forming material.

In one aspect, the invention provides a positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a carboxyl and/or phenolic hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group and recurring units (a) having a 2-pyrone ester, represented by the general formula (1), and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000 as a base resin.

Herein R¹ is hydrogen or methyl, R² is methyl or ethyl, and X is a single bond, a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester radical, ether radical or lactone ring, phenylene group or naphthylene group.

In a preferred embodiment, the polymer comprises recurring units (a) and acid labile group-substituted recurring units (b1) and/or (b2), as represented by the general formula (2).

Herein R¹, R² and X are as defined above, R³ and R⁵ each are hydrogen or methyl, R⁴ and R⁸ each are an acid labile group, R⁶ is a single bond or a straight or branched C₁-C₆ alkylene group, R⁷ is hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, cyano, or straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkyl group, p is 1 or 2, q is an integer of 0 to 4, Y¹ is a single bond, a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester radical, ether radical or lactone ring, phenylene group or naphthylene group, Y² is a single bond, —C(═O)—O— or —C(═O)—NH—, a, b1 and b2 are numbers in the range: 0<a<1.0, 0≦b1<1.0, 0≦b2<1.0, 0<b1+b2<1.0, and 0.1≦a+b1+b2≦1.0.

In a more preferred embodiment, the polymer further comprises recurring units (c) having an adhesive group selected from the class consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, lactone ring, carbonate, thiocarbonate, carbonyl, cyclic acetal, ether, ester, sulfonic acid ester, cyano, amide, and —O—C(═O)-G- wherein G is sulfur or NH and c is a number in the range: 0<c≦0.9 and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0.

In a more preferred embodiment, in addition to the recurring units (a), (b1) and/or (b2), and (c), the polymer further comprises recurring units of at least one type selected from sulfonium salt units (d1) to (d3) represented by the general formula (3).

Herein R²⁰, R²⁴, and R²⁸ each are hydrogen or methyl, R²¹ is a single bond, phenylene, —O—R—, or —C(═O)—Y⁰—R—, Y⁰ is oxygen or NH, R is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl, ester, ether or hydroxyl radical, R²², R²³, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, R²⁹, R³⁰, and R³¹ are each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group which may contain a carbonyl, ester or ether radical, or a C₆-C₁₂ aryl, C₇-C₂₀ aralkyl, or thiophenyl group, Z⁰ is a single bond, methylene, ethylene, phenylene, fluorophenylene, —O—R³²—, or —C(═O)—Z¹—R³²—, Z¹ is oxygen or NH, R³² is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl, ester, ether or hydroxyl radical, M⁻ is a non-nucleophilic counter ion, d1, d2 and d3 are in the range: 0≦d1≦0.5, 0≦d2≦0.5, 0≦d3≦0.5, 0<d1+d2+d3≦0.5, and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3≦1.0.

Optionally the resist composition may further comprise an organic solvent and an acid generator, the composition being a chemically amplified resist composition. The resist composition may further comprise a basic compound and/or a surfactant as an additive.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a pattern forming process comprising the steps of applying the positive resist composition defined above onto a substrate to form a coating, baking, exposing the coating to high-energy radiation, and developing the exposed coating in a developer.

Typically, the high-energy radiation is i-line, KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, EB or soft X-ray having a wavelength of 3 to 15 nm.

The positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition, may be used not only in the lithography for forming semiconductor circuits, but also in the formation of mask circuit patterns, micromachines, and thin-film magnetic head circuits.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The positive resist composition has a satisfactory effect of suppressing acid diffusion and a high resolution, and forms a pattern of good profile and minimal edge roughness after exposure. The positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition is best suited as a micropatterning material for photomasks by EB lithography or for VLSIs by i-line, KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, EB or EUV lithography.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. “Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstances may or may not occur, and that description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. The notation (Cn-Cm) means a group containing from n to m carbon atoms per group.

The acronym “PAG” stands for photoacid generator, “PEB” for post-exposure bake, “LER” for line edge roughness, “LWR” for line width roughness, “EUV” for extreme ultraviolet, and “EB” for electron beam.

One embodiment of the invention is a positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units (a) having a 2-pyrone ester, represented by the general formula (1) and recurring units having a carboxyl and/or phenolic hydroxyl group whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group as a base resin.

Herein R¹ is hydrogen or methyl, R² is methyl or ethyl, and X is a single bond, a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester (COO) radical, ether radical or lactone ring, phenylene group or naphthylene group.

Preferred as the base resin is a polymer comprising at least recurring units (a) and acid labile group-substituted recurring units (b1) and/or (b2), as represented by the general formula (2). The polymer has a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000.

Herein R¹, R² and X are as defined above, R³ and R⁵ each are hydrogen or methyl, R⁴ and R⁸ each are an acid labile group, R⁶ is a single bond or a straight or branched C₁-C₆ alkylene group, R⁷ is hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, cyano, or straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkyl group, p is 1 or 2, q is an integer of 0 to 4, Y¹ is a single bond, a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester radical, ether radical or lactone ring, phenylene group or naphthylene group, Y² is a single bond, —C(═O)—O— or —C(═O)—NH—, a, b1 and b2 are numbers in the range: 0<a<1.0, 0≦b1<1.0, 0≦b2<1.0, 0<b1+b2<1.0, and 0.1≦a+b1+b2≦1.0.

A monomer Ma from which the recurring unit of formula (1) is derived may be represented by the following formula.

Herein R¹, R² and X are as defined above.

This monomer may be synthesized by esterification of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl(or ethyl)-2-pyrone with a monomer having a polymerizable double bond as shown by the reaction scheme below. Since the monomer's position bonded via esterification of the hydroxyl group of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl(or ethyl)-2-pyrone becomes quaternary carbon due to double bond in quadruple-ring, a polymer resulting from polymerization of the monomer is characterized by hindered free rotation and a high glass transition temperature. The elevation of glass transition temperature enhances the acid diffusion control function, leading to an improvement in resolution. In addition, the polymer is more hydrophobic due to the inclusion of R² group (i.e., methyl or ethyl) within the ring, which is effective for suppressing any film thickness loss of the pattern after development.

Notably, esterification may also be performed using (meth)acrylic anhydride or (meth)acrylic chloride instead of the (meth)acrylic acid.

Examples of the monomer Ma from which recurring unit (a) is derived are given below.

Herein R¹ and R² are as defined above.

The polymer in the positive resist composition is characterized by the inclusion of recurring units (a) of 2-pyrone ester. The hydrophobicity of R² group in 2-pyrone ester functions to suppress any film thickness loss during alkaline development for thereby preventing pattern collapse and reducing edge roughness (LWR). The double bond included within the ring serves to increase the quantity of secondary electrons generated during EB or EUV exposure, whereby the sensitivity of resist is improved.

Monomers Mb1 and Mb2 from which the acid labile group-containing recurring units (b1) and (b2) in formula (2) are derived may be represented by the following formulae.

Herein R³ to R⁸, Y¹, Y², p and q are as defined above.

Of the groups represented by Y¹, the C₁-C₁₂ linking group having a lactone ring may be exemplified by the following.

Examples of the monomer Mb1 from which recurring unit (b1) is derived are given below, but not limited thereto.

Herein R³ and R⁴ are as defined above.

Examples of the monomer Mb2 from which recurring unit (b2) is derived are given below, but not limited thereto.

Herein R⁵ and R⁸ are as defined above.

The acid labile groups represented by R⁴ and R⁸ in formula (2) may be selected from a variety of such groups. The acid labile groups may be the same or different and preferably include substituent groups of the following formulae (A-1) to (A-3).

In formula (A-1), R^(L30) is a tertiary alkyl group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 4 to 15 carbon atoms, a trialkylsilyl group in which each alkyl moiety has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an oxoalkyl group of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or a group of formula (A-3). Exemplary tertiary alkyl groups are tert-butyl, tert-amyl, 1,1-diethylpropyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyl, 1-butylcyclopentyl, 1-ethylcyclohexyl, 1-butylcyclohexyl, 1-ethyl-2-cyclopentenyl, 1-ethyl-2-cyclohexenyl, and 2-methyl-2-adamantyl. Exemplary trialkylsilyl groups are trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, and dimethyl-tert-butylsilyl. Exemplary oxoalkyl groups are 3-oxocyclohexyl, 4-methyl-2-oxooxan-4-yl, and 5-methyl-2-oxooxolan-5-yl. Letter A1 is an integer of 0 to 6.

In formula (A-2), R^(L31) and R^(L32) are hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic alkyl groups of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Exemplary alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, and n-octyl. R^(L33) is a monovalent hydrocarbon group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, examples of which include straight, branched or cyclic alkyl groups and substituted forms of such alkyl groups in which some hydrogen atoms are replaced by hydroxyl, alkoxy, oxo, amino, alkylamino or the like. Illustrative examples of the substituted alkyl groups are shown below.

A pair of R^(L31) and R^(L32), R^(L31) and R^(L33), or R^(L32) and R^(L33) may bond together to form a ring with the carbon and oxygen atoms to which they are attached. Each of R^(L31), R^(L32) and R^(L33) is a straight or branched alkylene group of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 10 carbon atoms when they form a ring, while the ring preferably has 3 to 10 carbon atoms, more preferably 4 to 10 carbon atoms.

Examples of the acid labile groups of formula (A-1) include tert-butoxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl, tert-amyloxycarbonyl, tert-amyloxycarbonylmethyl, 1,1-diethylpropyloxycarbonyl, 1,1-diethylpropyloxycarbonylmethyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyloxycarbonyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyloxycarbonylmethyl, 1-ethyl-2-cyclopentenyloxycarbonyl, 1-ethyl-2-cyclopentenyloxycarbonylmethyl, 1-ethoxyethoxycarbonylmethyl, 2-tetrahydropyranyloxycarbonylmethyl, and 2-tetrahydrofuranyloxycarbonylmethyl.

Also included are substituent groups having the formulae (A-1)-1 to (A-1)-10.

Herein R^(L37) is each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group or C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, R^(L38) is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, R^(L39) is each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₂-C₁₀ alkyl group or C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, and A1 is as defined above.

Of the acid labile groups of formula (A-2), the straight and branched ones are exemplified by the following groups having formulae (A-2)-1 to (A-2)-69.

Of the acid labile groups of formula (A-2), the cyclic ones are, for example, tetrahydrofuran-2-yl, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl, tetrahydropyran-2-yl, and 2-methyltetrahydropyran-2-yl.

Other examples of acid labile groups include those of the general formula (A-2a) or (A-2b) while the polymer may be crosslinked within the molecule or between molecules with these acid labile groups.

Herein R^(L40) and R^(L41) each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₈ alkyl group, or R^(L40) and R^(L41), taken together, may form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached, and R^(L40) and R^(L41) are straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkylene groups when they form a ring. R^(L42) is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkylene group. Each of B1 and D1 is 0 or an integer of 1 to 10, preferably 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, and C1 is an integer of 1 to 7. “A” is a (C1+1)-valent aliphatic or alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group having 1 to 50 carbon atoms, which may be separated by a heteroatom or in which some of the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms may be substituted by hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl groups or fluorine atoms. “B” is —CO—O—, —NHCO—O— or —NHCONH—.

Preferably, “A” is selected from divalent to tetravalent, straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkylene, alkyltriyl and alkyltetrayl groups, and C₆-C₃₀ arylene groups, which may be separated by a heteroatom or in which some of the hydrogen atoms attached to carbon atoms may be substituted by hydroxyl, carboxyl, acyl groups or halogen atoms. The subscript C1 is preferably an integer of 1 to 3.

The crosslinking acetal groups of formulae (A-2a) and (A-2b) are exemplified by the following formulae (A-2)-70 through (A-2)-77.

In formula (A-3), R^(L34), R^(L35) and R^(L36) each are a monovalent hydrocarbon group, typically a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group or straight, branched or cyclic C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or fluorine. A pair of R^(L34) and R^(L35), R^(L34) and R^(L36), or R^(L35) and R^(L36) may bond together to form a C₃-C₂₀ aliphatic ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached.

Exemplary tertiary alkyl groups of formula (A-3) include tert-butyl, triethylcarbyl, 1-ethylnorbornyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyl, 2-(2-methyl)adamantyl, 2-(2-ethyl)adamantyl, and tert-amyl.

Other exemplary tertiary alkyl groups include those of the following formulae (A-3)-1 to (A-3)-18.

Herein R^(L43) is each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₈ alkyl group or C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, typically phenyl, R^(L44) and R^(L46) each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, and R^(L45) is a C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, typically phenyl.

The polymer may be crosslinked within the molecule or between molecules with groups having R^(L47) which is a di- or multi-valent alkylene or arylene group, as shown by the following formulae (A-3)-19 and (A-3)-20.

Herein R^(L43) is as defined above, R^(L47) is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group or arylene group, typically phenylene, which may contain a heteroatom such as oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, and E1 is an integer of 1 to 3.

Of recurring units having acid labile groups of formula (A-3), recurring units of (meth)acrylate having an exo-form structure represented by the formula (A-3)-21 are preferred.

Herein, R³ is hydrogen or methyl; R^(Lc3) is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₈ alkyl group or an optionally substituted C₆-C₂₀ aryl group; R^(Lc4) to R^(Lc9), R^(Lc12) and R^(Lc13) are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent C₁-C₁₅ hydrocarbon group which may contain a heteroatom; and R^(Lc10) and R^(Lc11) are hydrogen or a monovalent C₁-C₁₅ hydrocarbon group which may contain a heteroatom. Alternatively, a pair of R^(Lc4) and R^(Lc5), R^(Lc6) and R^(Lc8), R^(Lc6) and R^(Lc9), R^(Lc7) and R^(Lc9), R^(Lc7) and R^(Lc13), R^(Lc8) and R^(Lc12), R^(Lc10) and R^(Lc11), or R^(Lc11) and R^(Lc12), taken together, may form a ring, and in that event, each ring-forming R is a divalent C₁-C₁₅ hydrocarbon group which may contain a heteroatom. Also, a pair of R^(Lc4) and R^(Lc13), R^(Lc10) and R^(Lc13), or R^(Lc6) and R^(Lc8) which are attached to vicinal carbon atoms may bond together directly to form a double bond. The formula also represents an enantiomer.

The ester form monomers from which recurring units having an exo-form structure represented by formula (A-3)-21 are derived are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,420 (JP-A 2000-327633). Illustrative non-limiting examples of suitable monomers are given below.

Also included in the acid labile groups of formula (A-3) are acid labile groups of (meth)acrylate having furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl or oxanorbornanediyl as represented by the following formula (A-3)-22.

Herein, R³ is hydrogen or methyl; R^(Lc14) and R^(Lc15) are each independently a monovalent, straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ hydrocarbon group, or R^(Lc14) and R^(Lc15), taken together, may form an aliphatic hydrocarbon ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached. R^(Lc16) is a divalent group selected from furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl and oxanorbornanediyl. R^(Lc17) is hydrogen or a monovalent, straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ hydrocarbon group which may contain a heteroatom.

Examples of the monomers from which the recurring units substituted with acid labile groups having furandiyl, tetrahydrofurandiyl and oxanorbornanediyl are derived are shown below. Note that Me is methyl and Ac is acetyl.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-23.

Herein R²³⁻¹ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group, and m23 is an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-23 are given below.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-24.

Herein R²⁴⁻¹ and R²⁴⁻² each are hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group; R is hydrogen, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group which may contain an oxygen or sulfur atom, C₂-C₁₂ alkenyl, C₂-C₁₂ alkynyl, or C₆-C₁₀ aryl group; R²⁴⁻³, R²⁴⁻⁴, R²⁴⁻⁵, and R²⁴⁻⁶ each are hydrogen, or a pair of R²⁴⁻³ and R²⁴⁻⁴, R²⁴⁻⁴ and R²⁴⁻⁵, or R²⁴⁻⁵ and R²⁴⁻⁶ may bond together to form a benzene ring; m24 and n24 each are an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-24 are given below.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-25.

Herein R²⁵⁻¹ is each independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkyl group, and in case m25 is 2 or more, R²⁵⁻¹ may bond together to form a non-aromatic ring of 2 to 8 carbon atoms; the circle denotes a link between carbons C_(A) and C_(B), selected from among ethylene, propylene, butylene and pentylene; R²⁵⁻¹ is not hydrogen when the circle denotes ethylene or propylene; R²⁵² is C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, nitro, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group; R is as defined above; m25 and n25 each are an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-25 are given below.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-26.

Herein R²⁶⁻¹ and R²⁶⁻² each are hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, nitro, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group; R is as defined above; and m26 and n26 each are an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-26 are given below.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-27.

Herein R²⁷⁻¹ and R²⁷⁻² each are hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group; R is as defined above; J is methylene, ethylene, vinylene or —CH₂—S—; and m27 and n27 each are an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-27 are given below.

In the recurring unit (b1), the hydrogen atom of the carboxyl group may be substituted by an acid labile group having the general formula (A-3)-28.

Herein R²⁸⁻¹ and R²⁸⁻² each are hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or cyano group; R is as defined above; K is carbonyl, ether, sulfide, —S(═O)— or —S(═O)₂—; and m28 and n28 each are an integer of 1 to 4.

Examples of the monomer having a carboxyl group substituted with an acid labile group of formula (A-3)-28 are given below.

In a more preferred embodiment, the polymer as the base resin may further comprise recurring units (c) having an adhesive group as copolymerized with the recurring units (a) and the recurring units (b1) having a carboxyl group whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group and/or the recurring units (b2) having a phenolic hydroxyl group whose hydrogen is substituted by an acid labile group, as represented by formula (2). The adhesive group is selected from among hydroxyl, carboxyl, lactone ring, carbonate, thiocarbonate, carbonyl, cyclic acetal, ether, ester, sulfonic acid ester, cyano, amide, and —O—C(═O)-G- wherein G is sulfur or NH; and c is a number in the range: 0<c≦0.9 and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0. The polymer has a weight average molecular weight in the range of 1,000 to 500,000.

Shown below are examples of the monomer from which the recurring units (c) having an adhesive group selected from among hydroxyl, carboxyl, lactone ring, carbonate, thiocarbonate, carbonyl, cyclic acetal, ether, ester, sulfonic acid ester, cyano, amide, and —O—C(═O)-G- wherein G is sulfur or NH are derived, with the proviso that recurring units (a), (b1) and (b2) are excluded from recurring units (c).

In the case of a monomer having a hydroxyl group, the hydroxyl group may be replaced by an acetal group susceptible to deprotection with acid, typically ethoxyethoxy, prior to polymerization, and the polymerization be followed by deprotection with weak acid and water. Alternatively, the hydroxyl group may be replaced by an acetyl, formyl, pivaloyl or similar group prior to polymerization, and the polymerization be followed by alkaline hydrolysis.

In a more preferred embodiment, recurring units (d1), (d2) or (d3) having a sulfonium salt as represented by the following general formula (3) may be copolymerized. It is noted that JP-A 2006-045311 discloses a sulfonium or iodonium salt having polymerizable olefin capable of generating a specific sulfonic acid; and JP-A 2006-178317 discloses a sulfonium salt having sulfonic acid directly attached to the main chain.

Herein R²⁰, R²⁴, and R²⁸ each are hydrogen or methyl. R²¹ is a single bond, phenylene, —O—R—, or —C(═O)—Y⁰—R—. Y⁰ is oxygen or NH. R is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene group or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl (—CO—), ester (—COO—), ether (—O—), or hydroxyl moiety. R²², R²³, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, R²⁹, R³⁰, and R³¹ are each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group which may contain a carbonyl, ester or ether moiety, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group, a C₇-C₂₀ aralkyl group, or a thiophenyl group. Z⁰ is a single bond, methylene, ethylene, phenylene, fluorinated phenylene, —O—R³²—, or —C(═O)—Z¹—R³²—, wherein Z¹ is oxygen or NH, and R³² is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene group or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl, ester, ether or hydroxyl moiety. M⁻ is a non-nucleophilic counter ion. Molar fractions d1, d2 and d3 are in the range: 0≦d1≦0.5, 0≦d2≦0.5, 0≦d3≦0.5, 0≦d1+d2+d3≦0.5. When recurring units (d1), (d2) or (d3) are incorporated, the preferred range is 0<d1+d2+d3≦0.5 and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3≦1.0.

Binding an acid generator to the polymer backbone is effective for reducing acid diffusion and preventing the resolution from lowering due to blur by acid diffusion. Additionally, edge roughness (LER, LWR) is improved because the acid generator is uniformly dispersed.

Examples of the non-nucleophilic counter ion represented by M⁻ include halide ions such as chloride and bromide ions; fluoroalkylsulfonate ions such as triflate, 1,1,1-trifluoroethanesulfonate, and nonafluorobutanesulfonate; arylsulfonate ions such as tosylate, benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorobenzenesulfonate; alkylsulfonate ions such as mesylate and butanesulfonate; imidates such as bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)imide and bis(perfluorobutylsulfonyl)imide; methidates such as tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide and tris(perfluoroethylsulfonyl)methide.

Other non-nucleophilic counter ions include sulfonates having fluorine substituted at α-position as represented by the general formula (K-1) and sulfonates having fluorine substituted at α- and β-positions as represented by the general formula (K-2).

In formula (K-1), R¹⁰² is hydrogen, or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, or C₆-C₂₀ aryl group, which may have an ether, ester, carbonyl moiety, lactone ring or fluorine. In formula (K-2), R¹⁰³ is hydrogen, or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₃₀ alkyl or acyl group, C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, or C₆-C₂₀ aryl or aryloxy group, which may have an ether, ester, carbonyl moiety or lactone ring.

Understandably, when a polymer having copolymerized therein recurring units of any type as represented by formula (3) is used as the base resin in a resist composition, the addition of a photoacid generator to be described later may be omitted.

The polymer may have further copolymerized therein recurring units (e) of any type selected from indene units (e1), acenaphthylene units (e2), chromone units (e3), coumarin units (e4), and norbornadiene units (e5) as represented by the general formula (4).

Herein R¹¹⁰ to R¹¹⁴ each are hydrogen, C₁-C₃₀ alkyl, partially or entirely halo-substituted alkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkanoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, halogen, or 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol group; X⁰ is methylene, oxygen or sulfur atom; e1 to e5 are numbers in the range: 0≦e1≦0.5, 0≦e2≦0.5, 0≦e3≦0.5, 0≦e4≦0.5, 0≦e5≦0.5, and 0≦e1+e2+e3+e4+e5≦0.5, and where units (e) are incorporated, 0<e1+e2+e3+e4+e5≦0.5.

Besides the recurring units (a) to (e), additional recurring units (f) may be copolymerized in the polymer. Exemplary are recurring units derived from styrene, vinylnaphthalene, vinylanthracene, vinylpyrene, methyleneindane, and the like.

The polymer defined herein may be synthesized by any desired methods, for example, by dissolving suitable monomers selected from the monomers to form the recurring units (a) to (f) in an organic solvent, adding a radical polymerization initiator thereto, and effecting heat polymerization. Examples of the organic solvent which can be used for polymerization include toluene, benzene, tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, dioxane, cyclohexane, cyclopentane, methyl ethyl ketone, and γ-butyrolactone. Examples of the polymerization initiator used herein include 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl 2,2-azobis(2-methylpropionate), benzoyl peroxide, and lauroyl peroxide. Preferably the system is heated at 50 to 80° C. for polymerization to take place. The reaction time is 2 to 100 hours, preferably 5 to 20 hours.

When hydroxystyrene or hydroxyvinylnaphthalene is copolymerized, an alternative method is possible. Specifically, acetoxystyrene or acetoxyvinylnaphthalene is used instead of hydroxystyrene or hydroxyvinylnaphthalene, and after polymerization, the acetoxy group is deprotected by alkaline hydrolysis as mentioned above, for thereby converting the polymer product to polyhydroxystyrene or hydroxypolyvinylnaphthalene. For alkaline hydrolysis, a base such as aqueous ammonia or triethylamine may be used. The reaction temperature is −20° C. to 100° C., preferably 0° C. to 60° C., and the reaction time is 0.2 to 100 hours, preferably 0.5 to 20 hours.

In the (co)polymer, recurring units (a) to (c) may be incorporated in the following molar fraction: 0<a≦1.0, preferably 0<a<1.0, 0≦b1<1.0, 0≦b2<1.0, 0<b1+b2<1.0, 0.1≦a+b1+b2≦1.0, and 0≦c≦0.9, and where unit (c) is incorporated, 0<c≦0.9 and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0;

more preferably 0.02≦a≦0.8, 0≦b1≦0.8, 0≦b2≦0.8, 0.1≦b1+b2≦0.8, and 0.1≦c≦0.88;

even more preferably 0.05≦a≦0.75, 0≦b1≦0.7, 0≦b2≦0.7, 0.1≦b1+b2≦0.75, and 0.15≦c≦0.85;

most preferably 0.07≦a≦0.7, 0≦b1≦0.65, 0≦b2≦0.65, 0.1≦b1+b2≦0.7, and 0.2≦c≦0.83. Preferably, a, b and c are in the range: 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0, more preferably 0.3≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0, and even more preferably 0.4≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0.

Recurring units (d) may be incorporated in the following molar fraction: 0≦d1≦0.5, 0≦d2≦0.5, 0≦d3≦0.5, and 0≦d1+d2+d3≦0.5; preferably 0≦d1≦0.4, 0≦d2≦0.4, 0≦d3≦0.4, and 0≦d1+d2+d3≦0.4; more preferably 0≦d1≦0.3, 0≦d2≦0.3, 0≦d3≦0.3, and 0≦d1+d2+d3≦0.3; and even more preferably 0≦d1≦0.2, 0≦d2≦0.2, 0≦d3≦0.2, and 0≦d1+d2+d3≦0.25. Preferably, a to d are in the range: 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3≦1.0, more preferably 0.4≦a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3≦1.0.

Where recurring units (e) and (f) are incorporated, their molar fraction is: 0≦e1≦0.5, 0≦e2≦0.5, 0≦e3≦0.5, 0≦e4≦0.5, 0≦e5≦0.5, and 0≦e1+e2+e3+e4+e5≦0.5; preferably 0≦e1≦0.4, 0≦e2≦0.4, 0≦e3≦0.4, 0≦e4≦0.4, 0≦e5≦0.4, and 0≦e1+e2+e3+e4+e5≦0.4; more preferably 0≦e1≦0.3, 0≦e2≦0.3, 0≦e3≦0.3, 0≦e4≦0.3, 0≦e5≦0.3, and 0≦e1+e2+e3+e4+e5≦0.3; and 0≦f≦0.5, preferably 0≦f≦0.4, more preferably 0≦f≦0.3. It is preferred that a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3+e1+e2+e3+e4+e5+f=1.

The polymer serving as the base resin in the positive resist composition should have a weight average molecular weight (Mw) in the range of 1,000 to 500,000, and preferably 2,000 to 30,000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) versus polystyrene standards using tetrahydrofuran as a solvent. With too low a Mw, the resist composition becomes less heat resistant. A polymer with too high a Mw loses alkaline solubility and gives rise to a footing phenomenon after pattern formation.

If a multi-component polymer has a wide molecular weight distribution or dispersity (Mw/Mn), which indicates the presence of lower and higher molecular weight polymer fractions, there is a possibility that foreign matter is left on the pattern or the pattern profile is degraded. The influences of molecular weight and dispersity become stronger as the pattern rule becomes finer. Therefore, the multi-component copolymer should preferably have a narrow dispersity (Mw/Mn) of 1.0 to 2.0, especially 1.0 to 1.5, in order to provide a resist composition suitable for micropatterning to a small feature size.

It is understood that a blend of two or more polymers which differ in compositional ratio, molecular weight or dispersity is acceptable as well as a blend of an inventive polymer and a polymer free of recurring units (a).

The polymer is advantageously used as a base resin in a positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition. Specifically, the polymer is used as a base resin and combined with any desired components including an organic solvent, acid generator, dissolution regulator, basic compound, surfactant, and acetylene alcohol to formulate a resist composition. This positive resist composition has a very high sensitivity in that the dissolution rate in developer of the polymer in exposed areas is accelerated by catalytic reaction. In addition, the resist film has a high dissolution contrast, resolution, exposure latitude, and process adaptability, and provides a good pattern profile after exposure, yet better etching resistance, and minimal proximity bias because of restrained acid diffusion. By virtue of these advantages, the composition is fully useful in commercial application and suited as a pattern-forming material for the fabrication of VLSIs or photomasks.

Particularly when an acid generator is added to formulate a chemically amplified positive resist composition capable of utilizing acid catalyzed reaction, the composition has a higher sensitivity and is further improved in the properties described above. Typical of the acid generator used herein is a photoacid generator (PAG) capable of generating an acid in response to actinic light or radiation. It is any compound capable of generating an acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation. Suitable photoacid generators include sulfonium salts, iodonium salts, sulfonyldiazomethane, N-sulfonyloxyimide, and oxime-O-sulfonate acid generators. The acid generators may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. Exemplary acid generators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,880 (JP-A 2008-111103, paragraphs [0122] to [0142]).

Inclusion of a dissolution regulator may lead to an increased difference in dissolution rate between exposed and unexposed areas and a further improvement in resolution. Addition of a basic compound may be effective in suppressing the diffusion rate of acid in the resist film, achieving a further improvement in resolution. Addition of a surfactant may improve or control the coating characteristics of the resist composition.

Examples of the organic solvent used herein are described in JP-A 2008-111103, paragraphs [0144] to [0145] (U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,880). Exemplary basic compounds are described in JP-A 2008-111103, paragraphs [0146] to [0164]. Exemplary surfactants are described in JP-A 2008-111103, paragraphs [0165] to [0166]. Exemplary dissolution regulators are described in JP-A 2008-122932 (US 2008090172), paragraphs [0155] to [0178], and exemplary acetylene alcohols in paragraphs [0179] to [0182]. Also useful are quenchers of polymer type as described in JP-A 2008-239918. The polymeric quencher segregates at the resist surface after coating and thus enhances the rectangularity of resist pattern. When a protective film is applied, the polymeric quencher is also effective for preventing a film thickness loss of resist pattern or rounding of pattern top.

An appropriate amount of the acid generator used is 0.01 to 100 parts, and preferably 0.1 to 80 parts. An appropriate amount of the organic solvent used is 50 to 10,000 parts, especially 100 to 5,000 parts. The dissolution regulator may be blended in an amount of 0 to 50 parts, preferably 0 to 40 parts, the basic compound in an amount of 0 to 100 parts, preferably 0.001 to 50 parts, and the surfactant in an amount of 0 to 10 parts, preferably 0.0001 to 5 parts. All amounts are expressed in parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

Process

The positive resist composition, typically chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising the polymer, organic solvent, acid generator, and basic compound is used in the fabrication of various integrated circuits. Pattern formation using the resist composition may be performed by well-known lithography processes. The process generally involves coating, heat treatment (or prebaking), exposure, heat treatment (PEB), and development. If necessary, any additional steps may be added.

The resist composition is first applied onto a substrate on which an integrated circuit is to be formed (e.g., Si, SiO₂, SiN, SiON, TiN, WSi, BPSG, SOG, or organic antireflective coating) or a substrate on which a mask circuit is to be formed (e.g., Cr, CrO, CrON, or MoSi) by a suitable coating technique such as spin coating, roll coating, flow coating, dip coating, spray coating or doctor coating. The coating is prebaked on a hot plate at a temperature of 60 to 150° C. for 10 seconds to 30 minutes, preferably 80 to 120° C. for 30 seconds to 20 minutes. The resulting resist film is generally 0.01 to 2.0 μm thick.

If desired, a protective film may be formed on the resist film. The protective film is preferably formed of an alkaline developer-soluble composition so that both formation of a resist pattern and stripping of the protective film may be achieved during development. The protective film has the functions of restraining outgassing from the resist film, filtering or cutting off out-of-band (OOB) light having a wavelength of 140 to 300 nm emitted by the EUV laser (other than 13.5 nm), and preventing the resist film from assuming T-top profile or from losing its thickness under environmental impacts.

The resist film is then exposed to a desired pattern of high-energy radiation such as UV, deep-UV, EB, x-ray, excimer laser light, γ-ray, synchrotron radiation or EUV (soft x-ray), directly or through a mask. The exposure dose is preferably about 1 to 200 mJ/cm², more preferably about 10 to 100 mJ/cm², or 0.1 to 100 μC/cm², more preferably 0.5 to 50 μC/cm². The resist film is further baked (PEB) on a hot plate at 60 to 150° C. for 10 seconds to 30 minutes, preferably 80 to 120° C. for 30 seconds to 20 minutes.

Thereafter the resist film is developed with a developer in the form of an aqueous base solution for 3 seconds to 3 minutes, preferably 5 seconds to 2 minutes by conventional techniques such as dip, puddle or spray techniques. Suitable developers are 0.1 to 10 wt %, preferably 2 to 5 wt % aqueous solutions of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAH), tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAH) and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH). The resist film in the exposed area is dissolved in the developer whereas the resist film in the unexposed area is not dissolved. In this way, the desired positive pattern is formed on the substrate. It is appreciated that the resist composition of the invention is best suited for micro-patterning using such high-energy radiation as EB, EUV (soft x-ray), x-ray, γ-ray and synchrotron radiation among others.

Although TMAH aqueous solution is generally used as the developer, TEAH, TPAH and TBAH having a longer alkyl chain are effective in inhibiting the resist film from being swollen during development and thus preventing pattern collapse. JP 3429592 describes an example using an aqueous TBAH solution for the development of a polymer comprising recurring units having an alicyclic structure such as adamantane methacrylate and recurring units having an acid labile group such as tert-butyl methacrylate, the polymer being water repellent due to the absence of hydrophilic groups.

The TMAH developer is most often used as 2.38 wt % aqueous solution, which corresponds to 0.26N. The TEAH, TPAH, and TBAH aqueous solutions should preferably have an equivalent normality. The concentration of TEAH, TPAH, and TBAH that corresponds to 0.26N is 3.84 wt %, 5.31 wt %, and 6.78 wt %, respectively.

When a pattern with a line size of 32 nm or less is resolved by the EB and EUV lithography, there arises a phenomenon that lines become wavy, lines merge together, and merged lines collapse. It is believed that this phenomenon occurs because lines are swollen in the developer and the thus expanded lines merge together. Since the swollen lines containing liquid developer are as soft as sponge, they readily collapse under the stress of rinsing. For this reason, the developer using a long-chain alkyl developing agent is effective for preventing film swell and hence, pattern collapse.

In another embodiment, a negative pattern can be formed from the resist composition by organic solvent development. The developer used to this end is at least one solvent selected from among 2-octanone, 2-nonanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone, 4-heptanone, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, diisobutyl ketone, methylcyclohexanone, acetophenone, methylacetophenone, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, amyl acetate, butenyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, phenyl acetate, propyl formate, butyl formate, isobutyl formate, amyl formate, isoamyl formate, methyl valerate, methyl pentenoate, methyl crotonate, ethyl crotonate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, propyl lactate, butyl lactate, isobutyl lactate, amyl lactate, isoamyl lactate, methyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, ethyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, methyl benzoate, ethyl benzoate, benzyl acetate, methyl phenylacetate, benzyl formate, phenylethyl formate, methyl 3-phenylpropionate, benzyl propionate, ethyl phenylacetate, and 2-phenylethyl acetate.

At the end of development, the resist film is rinsed. As the rinsing liquid, a solvent which is miscible with the developer and does not dissolve the resist film is preferred. Suitable solvents include alcohols of 3 to 10 carbon atoms, ether compounds of 8 to 12 carbon atoms, alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes of 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and aromatic solvents. Specifically, suitable alkanes of 6 to 12 carbon atoms include hexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, dodecane, methylcyclopentane, dimethylcyclopentane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, dimethylcyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, and cyclononane. Suitable alkenes of 6 to 12 carbon atoms include hexene, heptene, octene, cyclohexene, methylcyclohexene, dimethylcyclohexene, cycloheptene, and cyclooctene. Suitable alkynes of 6 to 12 carbon atoms include hexyne, heptyne, and octyne. Suitable alcohols of 3 to 10 carbon atoms include n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, 1-butyl alcohol, 2-butyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tert-butyl alcohol, 1-pentanol, 2-pentanol, 3-pentanol, tert-amyl alcohol, neopentyl alcohol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, cyclopentanol, 1-hexanol, 2-hexanol, 3-hexanol, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol, 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanol, 2-ethyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-pentanol, 2-methyl-2-pentanol, 2-methyl-3-pentanol, 3-methyl-1-pentanol, 3-methyl-2-pentanol, 3-methyl-3-pentanol, 4-methyl-1-pentanol, 4-methyl-2-pentanol, 4-methyl-3-pentanol, cyclohexanol, and 1-octanol. Suitable ether compounds of 8 to 12 carbon atoms include di-n-butyl ether, diisobutyl ether, di-sec-butyl ether, di-n-pentyl ether, diisopentyl ether, di-sec-pentyl ether, di-tert-amyl ether, and di-n-hexyl ether. Suitable aromatic solvents include toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, tert-butylbenzene, and mesitylene. The solvents may be used alone or in admixture.

EXAMPLE

Synthesis Examples, Comparative Synthesis Examples, Examples and Comparative Examples are given below for further illustrating the invention, but they should not be construed as limiting the invention thereto. Mw is a weight average molecular weight as measured versus polystyrene standards by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using tetrahydrofuran solvent, and Mw/Mn designates molecular weight distribution or dispersity. All parts (pbw) are by weight.

Monomer Synthesis Example 1 Synthesis of Monomer 1

In 500 g of tetrahydrofuran, 50 g of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone and 3.7 g of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine were mixed. Under ice cooling, 92.4 g of methacrylic anhydride was added dropwise to the mixture. The contents were stirred at room temperature for 5 hours. Then water was added to quench the reaction, followed by standard aqueous workup. The product was purified by silica gel column chromatography, obtaining 112 g (yield 600) of Monomer 1.

PAG Monomers 1 to 4 used in the following Synthesis Examples are identified below.

-   PAG Monomer 1: triphenylsulfonium     1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-methacryloyloxypropane-1-sulfonate -   PAG Monomer 2: 5-phenyldibenzothiophenium     1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(methacryloyloxy)propane-1-sulfonate -   PAG Monomer 3: 5-phenyldibenzothiophenium     1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(3-methacryloyloxy-adamantane-1-carbonyloxy)propane-1-sulfonate -   PAG Monomer 4: 10-phenylphenoxathiinium     1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(3-methacryloyloxy-adamantane-1-carbonyloxy)propane-1-sulfonate

Synthesis Example 1

A 2-L flask was charged with 8.2 g of ethylcyclopentyl methacrylate, 7.8 g of Monomer 1, 5.3 g of 4-hydroxyphenyl methacrylate, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The resulting white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   ethylcyclopentyl methacrylate:Monomer 1:4-hydroxyphenyl         methacrylate=0.30:0.30:0.40     -   Mw=7,500     -   Mw/Mn=1.98

This is designated Polymer 1.

Synthesis Example 2

A 2-L flask was charged with 6.3 g of 3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl methacrylate, 5.9 g of Monomer 1, 1.7 g of indene, 6.0 g of 4-acetoxystyrene, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The resulting white solid was collected by filtration and dissolved again in a mixture of 100 mL of methanol and 200 mL of tetrahydrofuran, to which 10 g of triethylamine and 10 g of water were added. Deprotection reaction of acetyl group was conducted at 70° C. for 5 hours, followed by neutralization with acetic acid. The reaction solution was concentrated and dissolved in 100 mL of acetone. By similar precipitation, filtration, and drying at 60° C., a white polymer was obtained.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:Monomer         1:indene:4-hydroxystyrene=0.23:0.30:0.10:0.37     -   Mw=8,600     -   Mw/Mn=1.99

This is designated Polymer 2.

Synthesis Example 3

A 2-L flask was charged with 6.2 g of methylcyclohexyl methacrylate, 5.9 g of Monomer 1, 1.7 g of acenaphthylene, 6.0 g of 4-acetoxystyrene, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The resulting white solid was collected by filtration and dissolved again in a mixture of 100 mL of methanol and 200 mL of tetrahydrofuran, to which 10 g of triethylamine and 10 g of water were added. Deprotection reaction of acetyl group was conducted at 70° C. for 5 hours, followed by neutralization with acetic acid. The reaction solution was concentrated and dissolved in 100 mL of acetone. By similar precipitation, filtration, and drying at 60° C., a white polymer was obtained. The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   methylcyclohexyl methacrylate: Monomer         1:acenaphthylene:4-hydroxystyrene=0.25:0.30:0.10:0.35     -   Mw=9,200     -   Mw/Mn=1.89

This is designated Polymer 3.

Synthesis Example 4

A 2-L flask was charged with 8.2 g of 3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl methacrylate, 5.9 g of Monomer 1, 6.2 g of 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl methacrylate, 5.6 g of PAG Monomer 1, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The resulting white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:Monomer 1:4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl         methacrylate:PAG Monomer 1=0.30:0.30:0.30:0.10     -   Mw=7,600     -   Mw/Mn=1.78

This is designated Polymer 4.

Synthesis Example 5

A 2-L flask was charged with 5.5 g of 3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl methacrylate, 3.8 g of 4-tert-amyloxystyrene, 5.8 g of Monomer 1, 4.7 g of 4-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetramethylphenyl methacrylate, 5.6 g of PAG Monomer 2, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:4-tert-amyloxystyrene:Monomer         1:4-hydroxy-2,3,4,5-tetramethylphenyl methacrylate:PAG Monomer         2=0.20:0.20:0.30:0.20:0.10     -   Mw=8,900     -   Mw/Mn=1.87

This is designated Polymer 5.

Synthesis Example 6

A 2-L flask was charged with 5.2 g of 1-(adamantan-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate, 2.9 g of 4-tert-amyloxystyrene, 5.8 g of Monomer 1, 4.4 g of 4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl methacrylate, 11.0 g of PAG Monomer 3, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   1-(adamantan-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate:         4-tert-amyloxystyrene:Monomer 1:4-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl         methacrylate:PAG Monomer 3=0.20:0.15:0.30:0.20:0.15     -   Mw=9,100     -   Mw/Mn=1.78

This is designated Polymer 6.

Synthesis Example 7

A 2-L flask was charged with 5.9 g of 1-(cyclohexyl-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate, 2.9 g of 4-cyclohexyloxymethyloxystyrene, 5.8 g of Monomer 1, 3.1 g of 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl methacrylate, 15.0 g of PAG Monomer 4, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   1-(cyclohexyl-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate:         4-cyclohexyloxymethyloxystyrene:Monomer         1:4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl methacrylate:PAG Monomer         4=0.20:0.15:0.30:0.15:0.20     -   Mw=8,400     -   Mw/Mn=1.88

This is designated Polymer 7.

Synthesis Example 8

A 2-L flask was charged with 5.2 g of 1-(adamantan-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate, 2.9 g of 4-tert-amyloxystyrene, 5.8 g of Monomer 1, 3.1 g of 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl methacrylate, 15.0 g of PAG Monomer 4, and 40 g of tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The reactor was cooled to −70° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, whereupon vacuum evacuation and nitrogen blow were repeated three times. The reactor warmed up to room temperature whereupon 1.2 g of AIBN was added as a polymerization initiator. The reactor was heated at 60° C. and reaction run for 15 hours. The reaction solution was precipitated from 1 L of isopropyl alcohol. The white solid was collected by filtration and dried in vacuum at 60° C., yielding a white polymer.

The polymer was analyzed by ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, and GPC, with the analytical data shown below.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   1-(adamantan-1-yl)-1-methylethyl methacrylate:         4-tert-amyloxystyrene:Monomer 1:4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl         methacrylate:PAG Monomer 4=0.20:0.15:0.30:0.15:0.20     -   Mw=8,700     -   Mw/Mn=1.95

This is designated Polymer 8.

Comparative Synthesis Example 1

A polymer was synthesized by the same procedure as above.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:tetrahydro-2-oxofuran-3-yl         methacrylate:4-hydroxyphenyl methacrylate=0.30:0.40:0.30     -   Mw=10,200     -   Mw/Mn=1.99

This is designated Comparative Polymer 1.

Comparative Synthesis Example 2

A polymer was synthesized by the same procedure as above.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:4-hydroxyphenyl         methacrylate:3-oxo-2,7-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^(4,8)]nonan-9-yl         methacrylate:PAG Monomer 1=0.30:0.20:0.40:0.10     -   Mw=7,300     -   Mw/Mn=1.88

This is designated Comparative Polymer 2.

Comparative Synthesis Example 3

A polymer was synthesized by the same procedure as above.

Copolymer Composition (Molar Ratio)

-   -   3-ethyl-3-exo-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecanyl         methacrylate:2-oxooxolan-3-yl         methacrylate:4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl methacrylate:PAG         Monomer 1=0.30:0.30:0.30:0.10     -   Mw=9,900     -   Mw/Mn=1.79

This is designated Comparative Polymer 3.

Examples and Comparative Examples

Positive resist compositions were prepared by dissolving each of the polymers synthesized above and selected components in a solvent in accordance with the recipe shown in Table 1, and filtering through a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm. The solvent contained 100 ppm of a surfactant FC-4430 (3M Sumitomo Co., Ltd.).

The components in Table 1 are as identified below.

-   Polymers 1 to 8: polymers synthesized in Synthesis Examples 1 to 8 -   Comparative Polymers 1 to 3:     -   polymers synthesized in Comparative Synthesis Examples 1 to 3 -   Organic solvents: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA)     -   propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) cyclohexanone (CyH)     -   gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) -   Acid generator: PAG1 -   Basic compound: Amine 1

The structural formulae of these components are shown below.

EB Writing Test

Using a coater/developer system Clean Track Mark 5 (Tokyo Electron Ltd.), the positive resist composition was spin coated onto a silicon substrate (diameter 6 inches, vapor primed with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)) and pre-baked on a hot plate at 110° C. for 60 seconds to form a resist film of 100 nm thick. Using a system HL-800D (Hitachi Ltd.) at a HV voltage of 50 kV, the resist film was exposed imagewise to EB in a vacuum chamber.

Using Clean Track Mark 5, immediately after the imagewise exposure, the resist film was baked (PEB) on a hot plate at the temperature shown in Table 1 for 60 seconds and puddle developed in a 2.38 wt % TMAH aqueous solution for 30 seconds to form a positive pattern.

Resolution is a minimum size at the exposure dose (sensitivity) that provides a 1:1 resolution of a 100-nm line-and-space pattern. The 100-nm line-and-space pattern was measured for line width roughness (LWR) under SEM.

The resist composition is shown in Table 1 together with the sensitivity and resolution of EB lithography.

TABLE 1 Acid Basic Organic PEB Polymer generator compound solvent temp. Sensitivity Resolution LWR (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (° C.) (μC/cm²) (nm) (nm) Example 1-1 Polymer 1 PAG 1 Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 90 28.1 75 6.8 (100) (20) (1.0) CyH (200) 1-2 Polymer 2 PAG 1 Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 95 29.5 75 6.8 (100) (20) (1.0) CyH (200) 1-3 Polymer 3 PAG 1 Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 95 29.5 75 6.7 (100) (20) (1.0) CyH (200) 1-4 Polymer 4 — Amine 1 PGMEA (500) 95 28.3 70 4.2 (100) (0.8) CyH (1,450) PGME (50) 1-5 Polymer 5 — Amine 1 PGMEA (500) 95 25.6 70 4.1 (100) (0.8) CyH (1,450) PGME (50) 1-6 Polymer 6 — Amine 1 PGMEA (500) 90 26.6 70 4.6 (100) (0.8) CyH (1,450) PGME (50) 1-7 Polymer 7 — Amine 1 PGMEA (500) 90 26.7 70 4.5 (100) (0.8) CyH (1,450) PGME (50) 1-8 Polymer 8 — Amine 1 PGMEA (1600) 90 25.8 70 4.3 (100) (0.8) GBL (400) Comparative 1-1 Comparative PAG 1 Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 90 23.8 90 8.9 Example Polymer 1 (12) (1.0) CyH (200) (100) 1-2 Comparative — Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 90 30.5 80 6.1 Polymer 2 (1.0) CyH (200) (100) 1-3 Comparative — Amine 1 PGMEA (1,500) 85 33.5 80 6.8 Polymer 3 (1.0) CyH (200) (100) EUV Exposure Test

A positive resist composition was prepared by dissolving each of the polymers synthesized above and selected components in a solvent in accordance with the recipe shown in Table 2, and filtering through a filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm. The resist composition was spin coated on a silicon substrate (diameter 4 inches, HMDS vapor primed) and prebaked on a hot plate at 105° C. for 60 seconds to form a resist film of 40 nm thick. EUV exposure was performed by dipole illumination at NA 0.3.

Immediately after the exposure, the resist film was baked (PEB) on a hot plate at the temperature shown in Table 2 for 60 seconds and puddle developed with a 2.38 wt % TMAH aqueous solution for 30 seconds to form a positive pattern.

Resolution is a minimum size at the exposure dose (sensitivity) that provides a 1:1 resolution of a 30-nm line-and-space pattern. The 25-nm line-and-space pattern was measured for LWR under SEM.

The resist composition is shown in Table 2 together with the sensitivity and resolution of EUV lithography.

TABLE 2 Acid Basic Organic PEB Polymer generator compound solvent temp. Sensitivity Resolution LWR (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (pbw) (° C.) (μC/cm²) (nm) (nm) Example Polymer 6 — Amine 1 PGMEA (1,000) 90 24 19 3.6 2-1 (100) (1.4) CyH (2,000) PGME (500) Comparative Comparative — Amine 1 PGMEA (1,000) 85 26 22 5.1 Example Polymer 3 (1.4) CyH (2,000) 2-1 (100) PGME (500)

It is evident from Tables 1 and 2 that the resist compositions using the inventive polymers having recurring units of 6-methyl-2-pyrone ester meet satisfactory resolution, sensitivity and edge roughness. By further copolymerizing an acid generator therein, more improvements in resolution and edge roughness are attained.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-041705 is incorporated herein by reference.

Although some preferred embodiments have been described, many modifications and variations may be made thereto in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having a carboxyl and/or phenolic hydroxyl group substituted with an acid labile group and recurring units (a) having a 2-pyrone ester, represented by the general formula (1), and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000 as a base resin,

wherein R¹ is hydrogen or methyl, R² is methyl or ethyl, and X is (1) a single bond, (2) a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester radical, ether radical or lactone ring, (3) phenylene group or (4) naphthylene group.
 2. The resist composition of claim 1 wherein the polymer comprises recurring units (a) and acid labile group-substituted recurring units (b1) and/or (b2), as represented by the general formula (2):

wherein R¹, R² and X are as defined above, R³ and R⁵ each are hydrogen or methyl, R⁴ and R⁸ each are an acid labile group, R⁶ is a single bond or a straight or branched C₁-C₆ alkylene group, R⁷ is hydrogen, fluorine, trifluoromethyl, cyano, or straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkyl group, p is 1 or 2, q is an integer of 0 to 4, Y¹ is (1) a single bond, (2) a C₁-C₁₂ linking group having an ester radical, ether radical or lactone ring, (3) phenylene group or (4) naphthylene group, Y² is a single bond, —C(═O)—O— or —C(═O)—NH—, a, b1 and b2 are numbers in the range: 0<a<1.0, 0≦b1<1.0, 0≦b2<1.0, 0<b1+b2<1.0, and 0.1≦a+b1+b2≦1.0.
 3. The resist composition of claim 2 wherein the polymer further comprises recurring units (c) having an adhesive group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, carboxyl, lactone ring, carbonate, thiocarbonate, carbonyl, cyclic acetal, ether, ester, sulfonic acid ester, cyano, amide, and —O—C(═O)-G- wherein G is sulfur or NH and c is a number in the range: 0<c≦0.9 and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c≦1.0.
 4. The resist composition of claim 3 wherein in addition to the recurring units (a), (b1) and/or (b2), and (c), the polymer further comprises recurring units of at least one selected from sulfonium salt units (d1) to (d3) represented by the general formula (3):

R²⁰, R²⁴, and R²⁸ each are hydrogen or methyl, R is a single bond, phenylene, —O—R—, or —C(═O)—Y⁰—R—, Y⁰ is oxygen or NH, R is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl, ester, ether or hydroxyl radical, R²², R²³, R²⁵, R²⁶, R²⁷, R²⁹, R³⁰, and R³¹ are each independently a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₂ alkyl group which may contain a carbonyl, ester or ether radical, or a C₆-C₁₂ aryl, C₇-C₂₀ aralkyl, or thiophenyl group, Z° is a single bond, methylene, ethylene, phenylene, fluorophenylene, —O—R³²—, or —C(═O)—Z¹—R³²—, Z¹ is oxygen or NH, R³² is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₆ alkylene group, alkenylene or phenylene group, which may contain a carbonyl, ester, ether or hydroxyl radical, M⁻ is a non-nucleophilic counter ion, d1, d2 and d3 are in the range: 0≦d1≦0.5, 0≦d2≦0.5, 0≦d3≦0.5, 0<d1+d2+d3≦0.5, and 0.2≦a+b1+b2+c+d1+d2+d3≦1.0.
 5. The resist composition of claim 1, further comprising an organic solvent and an acid generator, the composition being a chemically amplified resist composition.
 6. The resist composition of claim 5, further comprising a basic compound and/or a surfactant as an additive.
 7. A pattern forming process comprising the steps of applying the positive resist composition of claim 1 onto a substrate to form a coating, baking, exposing the coating to high-energy radiation, and developing the exposed coating in a developer.
 8. The process of claim 7 wherein the high-energy radiation is i-line, KrF excimer laser, ArF excimer laser, electron beam or soft X-ray having a wavelength of 3 to 15 nm. 